New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘KLEI04074’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘KLEI 04074’, characterized by its compact and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; dark green-colored foliage; and large bright pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEI04074’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEI04074’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create freely-branching and upright New Guinea Impatienswith large flowers, attractive flower coloration and good postproductionlongevity.

The new New Guinea Impatiens originated from a cross-pollinationconducted during in September, 2000 of the New Guinea Impatiens cultivarKLEI01027, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,231, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of New Guinea Impatiensidentified as code number S 588, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The cultivar KLEI04074 was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany inMay, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings inStuttgart, Germany since July, 2001, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KLEI04074’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KLEI04074’ as a new and distinct Impatienscultivar:

-   -   1. Compact and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored foliage.    -   5. Large bright pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored        centers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar KLEI01027. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inStuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants ofthe cultivar KLEI01027 primarily in flower size as plants of the newImpatiens had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar KLEI01027. Inaddition, plants of the new Impatiens had duller leaves with moreciliation on the margins than plants of the cultivar KLEI01027.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany,plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were less vigorous than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection        differed in flower coloration.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Grenada, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,343. Inside-by-side comparisons plants of the new Impatiens differed fromplants of the cultivar Grenada in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more vigorous than plants of        the cultivar Grenada.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Grenada differed        in flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘KLEI04074’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar KLEI04074 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotograph, following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the spring in Stuttgart, Germany, under commercialproduction practice in a glass-covered greenhouse and then grown in anoutdoor nursery during the summer. Plants were about 4.5 months old whenthe aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements were taken. During the production of the plants in thegreenhouse, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. During the production of theplants in the outdoor nursery, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to34° C., night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 20° C. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar KLEI04074.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri cultivar            KLEI01027, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,231.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number S 588, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium to fine, fibrous; creamy white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Compact and rounded plant habit; freely            branching and freely flowering habit. Moderately vigorous.        -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 45 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About 13. Length:            About 20 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode length: About            6 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 178B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite or in whorls.            Length: About 13 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape: Oblong to            lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Serrulate with ciliation. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Color: Developing foliage, upper            surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 138C.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 139A. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: 138C. Venation, upper surface: 181B;            towards the apex, 138C. Venation, lower surface: Midvein,            181B; lateral veins, 183A. Petiole: Length: About 1.2 cm.            Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 181B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single large rounded to            oval-shaped flowers. Freely and continuously flowering;            usually about eight flower buds and flowers per lateral            branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage; flowers            typically face parallel to the leaf canopy. Petals not            persistent; gynoecium persistent. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions.            Plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 184A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm by 6.7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Five per flower, imbricate. Length: Banner            petal: About 3.1 cm. Lateral petals: About 3.4 cm. Basal            petals: About 3.7 cm. Width: Banner petal: About 4.9 cm.            Lateral petals: About 3.7 cm. Basal petals: About 3.8 cm.            Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Cuneate to obtuse.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening and fully opened,            upper surface: 62A; towards the base, 57A; color becoming            closer to 62B with development. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: 62A.        -   Spur.—Quantity: One per flower. Length: About 6.6 cm.            Diameter: At apex: About 0.8 mm. At flower: About 2 mm.            Aspect: Curved. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 181A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: Two per flower. Length: About 1.5 cm.            Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            184A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Color: 181A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five fused            at anthers, hooded; filaments free. Anther length: About            6 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 4D. Pollen            amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Gynoecium:            Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 6 mm.            Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 6D. Style            color: Close to 6D. Ovary: Five-celled. Ovary color: 143A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 4° C. to about 37° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named‘KLEI04074’, as illustrated and described.